Cap and package



April 4, 1939. ,.1. R. FLEISCH ET AL 2,153,427

CAP AND PACKAGE Filed Sept. 17, 1954 5 sheets-sheet 2 f iv Q /34 ,.94 mmlmvmlum Hmm l V 15g A I Il' I ffy i Vf? 7 f4 5 'l Wil',`

April 4, 1939- J. R. FLElscH ET A1. 2,153,427

` GAP AND PACKAGE Filed Sept. 17, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 3a I l @MYZW ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Brooklyn, N. Y., Closure Corporation,

assignors to Anchor Cap &

Long Island City, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application September v17 Claims.

The present invention is an improvement upon a previous invention of the assignee, for which application has been filed, Serial No. 702,884, and pertains more particularly to tamper-proof packages and parts thereof.

For years, inventors and bottlers have been attempting to obtain a practical non-tamperable bottle which would prevent dishonest persons from adulterating the contents or substituting an inferior product. Various types of bottles and attachments have been patented for this purpose but they have been either tamperable or too complicated to be manufactured at a reasonable cost or to be sold at a reasonable price.

The previous invention referred to above provides a construction which solves many of these difficulties and the present invention is a simplification of the parts o f the previous construction and a simplification of the manufacture, the assembly, and the removal thereof, which reduces substantially the cost and the time required for these operations.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive non-tamperable seal.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the number of parts necessary in a non-tamperable seal.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the application of the parts in sealing the container.

Anotherfobject of the invention is to reduce' the cost of manufacture of the parts constituting a non-tamperable seal.

Another object of the 1nvention is to simplify the molding operations necessary to form the parts of the seal.

Another object of the invention is to provide intertting parts which will improve the appearance of the package and prevent tampering.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described or will be indicated in the appended claims, `and various advantages not referred to herein will occur kto one skilled inthe art upon lemployment.' of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, vforming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. 1- is a fragmentary sectional view of the parts of the seal applied to a container;

Fig. 2 is a .sectional view on the line 2--2 ofV Flai;

17, 1934, Serial No. 744,292

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the closure cap;

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the spring member and rband in perspective;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view vof a stack of assembled spring and band elements;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the sealed package;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an opened package with the closure applied as a reseal;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a bottom view illustrating a modification of the band; and

Fig. l is a sectional view with parts in elevation, illustrating the preferred method of mold- Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a preferred embodimentv of the present invention comprising a container l, a closure cap 2 and a frangible band 4 combined with a ratchet member 5. The details of the construction will b-e described more lparticularly in the following description of these several parts.

The container I is preferably a glass bottle or jar having the usual screw thread adjacent the upper end thereof for attaching a `sealing closure thereto. The container Vis also provided with the usual shoulder 'l and has, above the shoulder, a pair of projections 8 adapted to cooperatewith the shoulder 'l in seating and breaking the band 4, as will be described hereinafter.

The closure cap is preferably made of molded material, such as synthetic resins, phenolic condensation products, and the like, although the use of other materials,.is contemplated. The closure cap preferably has the usual screw thread 9 therein adapted to engage the thread v on the container to compress a liner l0 in the cover part of the cap against the rim of the container to seal the container. The'liner I0 may be of any desired material, for example cork, felt, rubber, cardboard or the like, which may have a thin layer of oil paper or tin foil I0', if desired. A suitable liner retaining ledge Il may support the liner in the cap during shipment and handling and when the cap is removed from the bottle. Thebottom of the skirt of the cap differs from the usual cap in that a series of ratchet projections f2 are provided at the inner part of the bottom of the cap to engage suitable projections on the locking` members 5, which will be described hereinafter. The outer peripheral part of the bottom of the skirt I4 extends downwardly beyond the bottomv Y of the cam-like surface and glass containers.

of the projections I2. In addition, the cap preferably has a narrow ledge I substantially inline with the bottom of the projections I2 andk intermediate the projections I2 and the downwardly depending portions I4 of the skirt. The advantage of having the bottom of the skirt constructed in this manner is to protect the projections I2, in the manufacture, handling and shipping of the caps, against breakage and the like. 'Ihe overhang I4 shields and cooperatesv with the upper edge of the collar 4 to form an overlapping joint which prevents access to the ratchet member 5 when a package is sealed. In addition, the construction of the cap, as shown, is particularly adapted for molding, thereby simplifying the manufacture. Caps of this kind may be most easily made, as illustrated in Fig. 10, by stripping the caps 2 from the molding pin 3l, forming the interior of the cap. This may be done while the caps are hot. The elasticity of the material in its hot state directly after molding permits the threads in the skirt of the cap to jump over the threads on the pin. The stripping operation may be accomplished by a stripping plate 32 which, with the cap as shown, may form the bottom of the portion I4, while the pin 3| may form the interior of the cap, the ratchet members I 2 and the ledge I5. The entire exterior of the skirt down to the bottom thereof is formed by an enveloping hob 33. The pin and stripping plate meet preferably at the inner edge of the depending part I4. In this way, the mold parting lines and fins, if any, are conned to portions where they are least objectionable and where they present the least diiculty in removal.

The screw cap, as described above, may be utilized as an ordinary screw cap on the container described or on other containers, both as an original seal and for resealing purposes. I-Iowever, with the cap alone, there is no insurance againstothers tampering with the contents of the package. For the purpose of preventing others from tampering with the package, there is provided a frangible band 4, which is preferably combined with a ratchet member 5. The upper portion of the band may have an upwardly extending part I6 on the inner periphery thereof adapted to fit on the inner periphery of the skirt portion I4 ofthe cap. These overlapping parts are suiiiciently long to prevent anyone from prying under the skirt of the cap to release the cap locking mechanism. The length of the part I6 should be slightly greater than the maximum variation from a true standard, permitted in the manufacture of the caps The bottom of the band has a recess I1 on the inner part thereof adapted to telescope over the projection I6 so that one band will nest with another to facilitate shipping and handlirg. 'I'he lower inner edge of the band may be bevelled to facilitate the nesting thereof. The lower portion of the band also has a pair of recesses I8 adapted to fit over the projections 8'on the container to hold the band against rotation with respect to the container. One end of each of the recesses I8 is provided with a camlike surface I9 adapted to cooperate with a similar surface on the projection 8 of the container to break vthe band 4 in two places, that is, substantially in half, whenever a force is applied to rot-ate the band with` respect to the container. In order to break the band with the leastv effort inv unscrewing, it has been found that the angle I9 should be about sixty the radius at the point.

The cam surfaces 2l on the ratchet member 5 and the cam surfaces 8 on the container should have similar angles of inclination to obtain the best results. l

The band is operatively connected to the cap to permit rotation with respect thereto for screwing the cap on and to prevent rotation with respect thereto on screwing the cap off. In this way, the cap may be screwed on without any hindrance whatsoever and cannot be screwed off without breaking the band 4, thus indicating that the package has been tampered with. To achieve this result, the member 5, preferably metallic, is provided with projections 28 to fit into'the recess I8 of the band. These projections 20 likewise, in their preferred form, have cam surfaces 2I which engage the'cam surfaces I 9 on the band to cooperate with similar cam surfaces on the bottle neck to exert pressure on the band at both the top and bottom thereof to facilitate complete breakage thereof. Preferably, these cam surfaces are about sixty degrees to the radius to obtain best results. Suitable tongues 22 are cut out of the metal member 4 and struck up from the plane of the metal, as shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, to engage the projections or ratchet members I2 on the closure cap. These tongues are suiiiciently strong to rotate the band 4, causing the projections 8 on the container and the projections on the member 5 to break the band 4, permitting it to fall ocIf the container, thereby preventing the package from being resealed without visible indications of its having been opened.

If desired, the band 4 may be made as illustrated in Fig. 9, wherein projections or vertical ribs 29, having the cam-like surfaces I9 and the vertical ribs 29 on the inside of the band, lock the band against rotation with respect to the bottle and with respect to the metal member 5. 'I'his construction has the advantage of saving material, since the portions 30 intermediate the recesses I8 are thinner.

The metal member 5 may be shipped and sold as a separate unit, but preferably is combined with the band 4. The band is provided with projections or bumps 24 in the recesses I8, over which the projections 20 of the metal member may be snapped to hold the metal member firmly in position in the band. The combined metal members and bands may be nested, as shown in Fig. 4, for shipping and handling. The bands and spring members may be assembled in the factory of the cap manufacturer, thus making it much easier for the bottler to assemble the parts of the package, which may be done by hand, it being merely necessary for the operator to pick up a cap in one hand and a combined band and ratchet member in the other hand, place the band on the container and then screw the cap on.

It will be understood, however, that these parts may be made and sold separately and the metal member 5 may be made of a moldable material instead of metal. A construction illustrating this is shown in Fig. 8, wherein a molded ratchet member 2 is shown in engagement with the ratchet on the cap, the molded member being held in its upper position by a spring 28. The modified construction will'operate efficiently but the spring 28 and ratchet member 21 cannot readily be combined, since it is necessary for the operator to handle four parts, exclusive of the bodment, the difference being in the construction of the spring and ratchet members and their assembly with the band.

-In assembling the device, as pointedout above, the operator applies a combined band and holding member to a filled bottle and thereafter screws the closure kcap on in the usual manner, or, if desired, a sealing machine may be used to apply the cap. In removing the cap, the consumer merely unscrews it in the usual manner. When the cap begins to turn, the cam projections on the member 5 and on the container I engage the cam projection on the band 4 to break the band at diametric points so that it falls off the container. The presence of the band in its original form indicates clearly that the package has not .been tampered with, and the absence of the band indicates that the package has been opened. So far as sealing is concerned, the cap works equally well with or without the band, although the band locks with the cap against accidental backing off. Fig. 6 illustrates a sealed bottle with the cap on, showing that it has not been tampered with, and Fig. 7 shows the sealed bottle with the cap reapplied for resealing purposes after the band has been broken in opening the package. To make the band more conspicuous and to improve the appearance of the package, the band is usually of a color which contrasts with the color of the cap, for example a red band with a black cap.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a construction which may be readily manufactured at a low cost. The construction may also be assembledwith a minimum amount of work on the part of the operator and with a minimum cost to the bottler. In addition, the cap is firmly locked in position against backing oi, so that there is no danger of the package becoming unsealed during transportation and handling. The cap is also locked against unauthorized opening of the package.- Any attempt to remove the cap immediately breaks the band, which is preferably of a different and conspicuous color, and indicates clearly that the package has been opened. These various advantages have been achieved in an inexpensive and convenient manner and with a minimum number of parts.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described our invention, weA claim:

l. As an article of manufacture, a molded closure cap comprising a cover portion and a depending skirt, the bottom of said skirt being bulged outwardly, a plurality of downwardly facing ratchet projections adjacent said outwardly bulged portion, a shoulder substantially.

adjacent the ends of said projections to form an abutment for the upper end of a franglble band, the bottom of the skirt of the cap extending below said shoulder and said projections to receive and overlap the upper end of the frangible band.

2. As an article of manufacture, a spring member having a projection struck upwardly and having a free end thereon adapted to engage a closure cap and having portions circumferentially spaced from each other and from said upwardly struck projections and intermediate said upwardly struck projections, said portions being bent downwardly throughout the width of the member to rotatably seat the member resiliently on a container.

3. As an varticle of manufacture, an indicator formed of Y breakable material, a member fitting therein normally held against rotation with respect thereto adapted to connect the band with a closure cap, means on said member for engaging a closure cap, and said member having integral portions bent downwardly for resiliently holding said engaging means in position to engage the closure cap.

4. .In a device of the class described, the combination of a container, a frangible band mounted about said container, a closure cap `applied to said container and means for holding said closure cap against backwardv rotation with respect to said frangible band without rupture of the band, said frangible band having an upwardly extending ledge and the skirt of the cap having a downwardly extending part adapted to extend over said upwardly extending ledge.

5. In a device of the class described, the combinationY vof a frangible indicator member adapted to seat on a container beneath a closure cap and to engage and lock with the container, and a :second member seated therein and attached thereto and normally held against rotation with respect to the indicator member for engaging and locking with a closure cap, whereby the band and attached member may be handled as a unit.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frangible indicator member adapted to be seated. on a container beneath a closure cap, a metallic spring member .having projections thereon adapted to engage a closure cap, said rst member having a seat therein for said spring member and projections beneath said seat, said spring member being adapted to snap over said projections and. to be held in position thereby.

7. As an article of manufacture, a frangible indicator member adapted to t on a container under a closure and to lock with the container, and a metal member secured to said frangible member to provide a unitary structure and normally held against rotation therein, said metal member having a resilient projection thereon adapted to permit relative movement in one direction with respect to the closure cap and to prevent relative movement therebetween in the opposite direction.

8.. In a device of the class described, the combination of a frangible indicator band adapted to t about the neck of a container, a projection on said band adapted to engage a projection on a container to break said band when the projection thereon is rotated past the projection on the container, and a metallic member having va bendable projection thereon adapted to permit portions of the closure cap to pass said projection in one direction and to prevent said portions' of a closure cap from passing said projection in the opposite direction.

9. In a container closure means, the combination of an internally threaded closure adapted to engage an external thread on a container and to close the container opening, an externally visible preformed readily breakable indicator member structurally separate from the closure and adapted to be freely assembled with the container without substantial change in size ol shape, a metallic ring having resilient prongs and serving to connect the indicator member with the closure to permit relative rotation in one direction and to prevent relative rotation in the opposite direction and cooperating with the closure to prevent removal of the indicator members from the closure meansl While the former i remains unbroken, and means for normally causing the breaking of the indicator member upon substantial rotative movement thereof.

10. The combination of a container having an opening and having an external thread, an internally threaded closure adapted to engage the external thread on the container and to close the container opening, an externally visible preformed readily breakable indicator member structurally separate from the closure, a metallic member having -a resilient prong and serving to connect Vthe indicator member with the closure to permit relative rotation in one direction and to prevent relative rotation in the opposite direction and to .cooperate with the indicator and the closure to prevent removal of the closure from the container while the indicator member remains unbroken, and means for normally causing the breaking of the indicator member upon substantial rotative movement thereof.

1l. In a container closure means, the combination of an internally threaded closure adapted to engage an external thread on a container and to close the container opening, an externally visible preformed readily breakable indicator member structurally separate from the closure and formed of a synthetic resin, a metallic member having at least one resilient prong connecting the indicator member directly With the closure and cooperating With the indicator member and the closure to permit rotation of the closure in one direction for application and to prevent rotation in the opposite direction thereby to prevent removal of the closure from the container while the indicator member remains unbroken, and concealed means for normally causing the radially Voutward breaking of the side portion of the indicator member upon substantial rotative movement thereof relative to the container.

12. The combination with a container, of a closure adapted to close the container opening,

"an externally visible preformed readily breakable indicator member structurally separate from the closure and adapted to be assembled with the container Without substantial change in size or shape, concealed metallic means having at least one resilient prong thereon connecting the indicator member with the closure to permit relative rotation of the indicator member and closure in one direction and cooperating with the indicator member and closure to prevent relative rocombination ofa container having an external thread thereon, an internally threaded closure adapted to engage the external thread on the container and to close the container opening, an externally visible preformed readily breakable indicator member structurally separate from the closure and formed from a synthetic molding compound, a metallic member having a resilient prong and serving to connect the indicator member with the closure to'permit relative rotation in one direction only with respect to the closure and cooperating with the closure to prevent removal of the indicator member While said member remains unbroken, and means on the container for causing the radially outward breaking of the indicator member upon substantial rotative movement thereof with respect to the container.

14. As an article of manufacture, an indicator band of breakable material for a sealed package having a shoulder adjacent one end thereof to serve as, a seat for a member to be inserted into said band, an annular part on said band adapted to be telescoped within the skirt of a closure cap, and means adapted to interlock with the member to be inserted in the band to prevent rotation of said member with respect to the band.

15. As an article of manufacture, an indicator band for a tamper-proof package adapted to nt about the neck of a container beneath a closure cap, said band being formed of breakable material such as a synthetic resin compound and having a seat on the interior thereof and projections spaced from said seat adapted to pere mit an annular member to be snapped thereover onto said seat whereby the annular member is held in position by said projections.

16. As an article of manufacture, an indicator band for a tamper-proof package formed of a molded material such as synthetic resins and adapted to t about the neck of a container beneath a closure cap, said band having a plurality of recesses therein adapted to receive an inner member and to prevent rotation thereof With respect to the band, said recesses having a shoulder adjacent one end thereof adapted to seat an inner member having projections fitting into` said recesses.

V17. In a device of the class described, the combination of a glass container, a closure capV on said container, a frangible band extending about said container and fitting under said closure cap having a projection thereon adapted to engage a, projection on the neck of said container Vwhereby said frangible member is broken when said projections are rotated past each other, and a metallicmember having a resilient projection thereon cooperating with said frangible member and said closure cap to permit application of the cap to a container but preventing removal of the cap therefrom Without breaking said frangible member. v

JOSEPH R. FLEISC'H. JOHN KOSAR. 

